Saidy Designs is a blend of artistry, care, and cultural expression through natural henna and microloc services that empower clients to feel seen and celebrated.
I’d like to introduce you to Saidy Designs, a small but mighty business founded by Fatu Saidy, a locitian and henna artist making a big impact on the locitian community. Whether she’s setting up shop at the Minneapolis Farmers Market or installing loc styles in her private studio, Fatu is leaving her mark—literally and figuratively—on the local beauty scene.
I recently sat down with Fatu to learn how a quiet COVID hobby blossomed into a growing business rooted in culture, creativity, and community.
Fatu’s journey began during the early days of the pandemic. After contracting COVID and facing isolation, she turned to henna and creative doodling as a form of self-care. It wasn’t long before friends and family began requesting her designs, and the seed for Saidy Designs was planted.
At the same time, she started her own microlox journey by doing her daughter’s hair—a personal decision that soon led to strangers stopping her in public to ask who styled her daughter’s locs. As more people inquired, she realized there was a gap in accessible, skilled loc care. Today, Fatu offers both henna and microlox services, providing natural beauty solutions to those looking for something authentic and low-maintenance.
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Saidy Designs is a business with two distinct offerings:
She also offers brow tinting using henna-based solutions, and you can find her at community events, local festivals, and the Farmers Market nearly every weekend in the summer.
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Saidy Designs truly special is the care and customization Fatu brings to every appointment. She mixes her own pastes. She learns, upgrades, and perfects her craft constantly. And perhaps most importantly, she creates a welcoming space for her clients to feel seen, celebrated, and taken care of.
"I focus on quality," she shared. "I can install, maintain, and repair microlocks. That’s not common. I want my clients to feel like they’re in good hands—literally."
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Fatu runs Saidy Designs as a side business while working full-time, so her days are packed. On Saturdays, she might start at 7 AM at the Farmers Market doing henna, then head straight to her studio for a multi-hour loc appointment. Installations can take up to 8 hours and often span multiple days. It’s clear: she works hard, and she works with intention.
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You can book an appointment with Saidy Designs through her website at  SaidyDesigns.com or directly on Booksy by searching for "Saidy Designs."
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If Fatu could name a song for her business, it would be one she made up herself: "Blessed Hands." And after seeing the artistry and dedication behind her work, we agree that the name fits.
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"I love seeing Black women reclaiming their hair journeys and finding freedom in styles like microlox," she said. "There’s something powerful about waking up, shaking your hair, and being ready to go. It’s liberating."
Fatu also celebrates how henna art has brought new cultural expression to the community. Her jagua paste creates bold, jet-black designs that pop beautifully on deeper skin tones, giving more people the chance to experience this art form in a visible and lasting way.
At Heyven, we love spotlighting the people behind the passion. Fatu of Saidy Designs is a reminder that side gigs can bloom into something beautiful—especially when they’re built on skill, care, and community.
Say hey to Saidy Designs and explore more at Heyven.co.
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